Electrical connector

ABSTRACT

A plug- and socket-type electrical connector having a linearly movable component for quickly engaging and disengaging the mating contacts and for locking and unlocking the connector parts. The connector has novel means for retaining the connector parts in axially aligned relationship after their preliminary assembly by relative transverse movement of said parts, and novel means for selectively securing the linearly movable component in its advanced, connector part mating position and in its retracted, connector part unmated position.

United States Patent [72] Inventor Richard W- N n mn 3,193,790 I 7/1965Boyle et al. 339/45 M Otego, NY. 3,345,604 /1967 l-lenschen et al.339/34 X [21] A ppl. No. 763,568 2,955,273 10/1960 Winkler 339/45 M [22]Filed Sept. 30, 1968 3,267,565 8/1966 Stuhler 339/45 M X [45] PatentedPrimary Examiner StephenJ Novosad I 0 I 1 [73] Ass'gnee eBend'x corporaon Assistant Examiner-Terrell P. Lewis Attorneys-Raymond J. Eifler andFlame, Hartz, Smith & [54] ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR Thompson Claims, 4Drawing Figs.

[52] 11.8. C1 339/ M, ABSTRACT; A plugand socket-type electricalconnector 339/34 R, 339/75 M,339/91R,339/1 4M having a linearly movablecomponent for quickly engaging [5 llltand disengaging the mating contaesand for locking and un- Field of Search 339/45, 46, locking theconnector parts. The connector has novel means 75, 91 i 83, 34, 186, 184for retaining the connector parts in axially aligned relationship aftertheir preliminary assembly by relative transverse move- [56] ReferencesCited ment of said parts, and novel means for selectively securingUNITED STATES PATENTS the linearly movable component in its advanced,connector 3,085,221 4/1963 Kelly et al 339/186 M part mating positionand in its retracted, connector part unmated position.

3 2 r 86 as 88 27 f- 89 8| 4'! I 82 95 a4 74 3| 8? so as 44 45 29 I03 736 66 4 12 u 22 Y K 2| 24 1t"; w I b -1 4 l |'::'l 1: H 1 36 413, 421.14s; 9 I? T I -wo: r- 4 r E hi i -43 f 1 5 l6 1. 1 I 1 i iii/ 1"; IIII l 9 f 94 92 I 22 24 1 I I 95/ 5o 84 99 3| 8 67 32 7 49 I l I 85 149975 19 3 59 s5 6 ATENTEB M021 ram I NVENTOR RICHARD W, NORMANN ATTORELECTRICAL CONNEGTOR This invention relates to electrical devices andmore particularly to connectors for separably connecting one or a.plurality of electrical conductors.

The invention has among its objects the provision of a novel device forquickly connecting or separating the ends of electrical conductors.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a novel separableelectrical connector of the type wherein the parts of the connector aredisposed in longitudinal alignment by relative lateral movement, theparts being then also retained from axial separation.

Another object of the invention is the provision, in a seperableconnector of the type indicated immediately hereabove, of means foryieldably retaining the connector parts against lateral movementrelative to each other after they have been placed in longitudinalalignment.

Yet another object of the invention is the provision of novellever-actuated means for moving a linearly movable component forengaging and disengaging the mating contacts of a separable electricalconnector.

Still further object of the invention is the provision in the aboveconnector, of a lever-actuated means which selectively locks thelinearly movable component in its advanced, connector part assembledposition, and in its retracted, connector part disassembled position,

Still another object is to provide a separable electrical connectorwherein the parts may be preliminarily and then finally assembled andlocked, and unlocked and disassembled by a one-hand operation.

The above and further objects and novel features of the invention willmore fully appear from the following description when the same is readin connection with the accompanying drawings. It is to be expresslyunderstood, however, that the drawings are for the purpose ofillustration only, and are not intended as a definition of the limits ofthe invention.

In the drawings, wherein like reference characters refer to like partsthroughout the several views,

FIG. I is a view partially in vertical axial section through anillustrative connector in accordance with the invention, certain of theparts being shown in elevation, the parts of the connector being shownin their fully engaged mating position;

FIG. 2 is a view in end elevation ofthe separable plug-carrying part ofthe connector shown in FIG. 4 and in the left hand portion of FIG. I,the view being taken from the right on FIG. 4 and generally from theline 2-2 of FIG. I with the receptacle connector part removed and theplug advanced, contact engaging components in position as seen in FIG.I;

FIG. 3 is a view in end elevation of the receptacle of wall mounted partof the connector shown at the right in FIG. I, the view being takengenerally from the line 33 of FIG. I with the plug-carrying partremoved; and

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary view in axial section of the plug-carrying partof the connector with the plug component thereof retracted into contactdisconnecting position, certain of the parts being shown in bottomplane, the section being taken generally along the line 4-4 of FIGS. 1and 2.

The connector of the invention has two main parts I and II, part beingshown as carrying a plurality of socket contacts 34 and part II ascarrying a similar number of pin or male contacts I7 adapted to bereceived within the sockets. It is to be understood that any number ofmating sockets and pins may be employed, and that the sockets and pinsmay be mounted in the opposite manner from that shown, that is, with thepins on connector part I0 and the sockets on connector part 11.

The connector is on such construction that the two connector parts maybe preliminarily mounted or connected in alignment by purely lateralmovement of the two connector parts with respect to each other; meansare provided to retain the two connector parts in such preliminarilymounted aligned position. One of the connector parts is provided with ameans carrying its electrically conducting sockets and/or pins which maybe advanced, after the preliminary alignment of the connector parts,toward the other connector part so that the pins and sockets are fullymated. The construction of the connector of the present invention issuch that the alignment of the separable connector parts and their finalpositioning or assembly may be carried out by the use of only one hand.The connector also incorporates means whereby the two connector partsare uniquely related, and thus one connector part cannot be connected tothe wrong mating connector part in apparatus wherein a plurality of suchconnectors are used.

In the illustrative embodiment the connector has a first or plug partgenerally designated I0, which here carries a plurality of socketcontacts 34 and a mating receptacle part II which carries a plurality ofpin or plug contacts 17 adapted to be received within the sockets. Thepart II is provided with a casing 12 of generally cylindrical shape,such cashing having a transverse flange M adjacent 40 the outer endthereof whereby the connector part II may be mounted on a fixedsupporting structure such as a wall or a switchboard. Mounted within thecasing I2 adjacent 40 the outer or right-hand end thereof (FIG. 1) is anelectrically insulating insert I6. A plurality (four shown) of axiallydirected pin or male contacts 17 are spaced throughout the insert I6 assown in FIG. 3. The insert I6 may be of relatively nonresilientmaterial; the inner face of such insert is here covered by a resilientinsulating plate 19 having frustoconical projections 20 about the rootsof the contacts I7 so as to form a seal about the mating contacts, in amanner to be described, with the insert carried by the opposingconnector part I0.

The insert I6 is securely retained within the casing 12 by an annularenlargement 2I on the insert mounted in a flange 22 on the inner surfaceof the casing I2. Specifically, enlargement 2] is thrust against theaxially inner wall of an annular groove in flange 22, following whichthe axially outer radially inner portion of such flange is spun over theenlargement 21. The insert 16 is maintained in accurate position aboutits axis with respect to the shell I2 by means of ribs on the insertwhich are received in longitudinal grooves on the inner surface of theshell I2, as indicated at 23. Insulating material 24 is applied to theannular space between the insert 16 and the casing 12 outwardly of theflange 22, as shown in FIG. 1.

The left-hand or inner end of the casing 12 is provided on the lowerhalf thereof as it is shown :in FIGS. 1 and 3 with a semicircularhooklike flange 25 having an inner part-circular groove 26 therein, theupper part of the axially inner end of the casing I2 being provided witha. semicircular flange 27 having a flat axially inner surface 28. Aswill be apparent hereinafter, the flange 25 and 27 form parts of themeans which retain the two connector parts III and II from axialseparation once they have been preliminarily connected or mounted inaxial alignment. The casing I2 has a circular cylindrical inner bore 29in the portion which lies to the left or axially inwardly of the flange22. The space defined by bore 29 receives the axially inner orright-hand end 37 of the plug shell 31 surrounding the socket-carryinginsert of connector part 10 when the parts are fully mated as shown inFIG. I.

Connector part 10 has a housing 30 within which a component including ashell 31 is axially reciprocable from the fully advanced, mated positionof FIG. I to a retracted position wherein the axially inner end of theshell 31 and the insert carried thereby lie in the position indicated inFIG. 4. Shell 31 carries an electrically insulating insert 32 within theaxially inner end 37 thereof, such insert carrying a plurality of socketcontacts 34 (four shown) adapted to receive the pin or plug contacts 17of the connector part II. Centrally thereof shell 31 is provided with aradially outwardly projecting annular flange 35 which is accurately andslidably received within the circular cylindrical inner surface 36 ofthe housing 30. The inner end portion 37 of the shell 31 is of circularcylindrical shape and has a diameter such that it is accurately andslidably received within the bore 29 in the casing 12 of connector partII. As shown in FIG. 2, the axially inner end 39 of the inert 32, whichmay be made of substantially rigid material, has a frustoconicaldepression 51 in axial alignment with each socket 34 and adapted toreceive and form a seal with the frustoconical projections 20 on theplate 19 when the connector parts are fully advanced relatively towardeach other as shown in FIG. 1. In order to retain shell 31 in accurateposition angularly with respect to the housing 30 about the common axisthereof, the flange 35 is provided with a plurality (two shown) ofaxially directed slots 40 angularly spaced thereabout, such slotsslidingly receiving longitudinally extending ribs 41 on the innersurface of the shell 30. The insert 32 is retained within the shell 31by having an annular enlargement 42 on the insert received within andgripped by the walls of several annularly spaced indentations 43 in theinner wall of the shell 31.

Housing 30 of the part of the connector is provided on its axially innerface with an upwardly (FIGS. 1 and 2) disposed semicircular flange 44having a downwardly open semicylindrical annular groove 45 therein. Part30 has a lower semicircular flange 46, the axially inner surface 47 offlange 46 lying transverse to the axis of the housing 30.

The parts 10 and 11 of the connector are preliminarily assembled inaxial alignment when the shell 31 of part 10 is retracted, that is,moved to the left in FIG. 1, so that the inner faces of the shell 31 andinsert 32 lie somewhat to the left of the surface 47 of flange 46 as inFIGQ 4. Assuming connector part 11 to be stationarily mounted connectorpart 10 is disposed above part 11 and is moved downwardly toward it withthe surface 28 of flange 27 substantially coplanar with the surface 47of flange 46. As the part 10 approaches the position relative to part 11which is shown in FIG. 1, the flange 17 is received within the grove 45in flange 44 and the flange 46 is received within the grove 26, therebypreventing the parts 10 and 11 from axial separation. Means to bedescribed is provided for releasably retaining the parts 10 and 11 ofthe connector in such axial alignment with each other. Following thisthe shell 31 of connector part 10 is advanced to the right so as tocause the pin and socket contacts to mate and also to lock the connectorparts 10 and 11 in the mating position shown in FIG. 1. In order to sealthe contacts against the intrusion of moisture and the like, there isprovided an annular groove 49 in the outer wall of part 31, 37 therebeing an annular resilient sealing member 50 disposed in such groove andsealingly engaging the inner surface of the bore 39 in the housing 12. Afurther seal is provided by frustoconical recesses 51 in the inner end39 of the insert 32 surrounding the sockets 34, such recesses 51receiving the frustoconical projections 20 which surround the roots ofthe male contacts 17. The range of travel of the shell 31 to the rightis such that the projections 20 compressed into sealing engagement withthe walls of the recesses 51 when the connector parts are fully mated.

The parts of the connector are provided with means whereby they areuniquely related, that is, a receptacle 11 will receive only theintended plug, carrying 10. Such feature is important in installation,for example, wherein a plurality of parts 11 of connectors in differentcircuits are mounted on a single switchboard and are adapted to beconnected only to given circuits through corresponding connector parts10. For this purpose a notch 54 is provided in the edge of flange 27 andan axially extending pin 57 is provided in flange 25 of connector part11. A notch 55 is provided in the flange 46 and an axially extending pin56 is provided in the flange 44. In this case the notch and pin on therespective connector parts are diametrically opposed. Pins 56 and 57project axially from surfaces 47 and 28, respectively, across thegrooves 45 and 26, respectively. The notches 54 and 55 have inner wallswhich are disposed substantially vertically as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3,that is, parallel to the direction of lateral motion of the parts withrespect to each other for effecting the preliminary longitudinalalignment of them. It will be seen that'unless the notch 54 and pin 57are disposed properly on the connector part 11 they cannot mate with thepin 56 and notch 55 on the connector part 10. In that event thepolarizing pins 56 and 57 would prevent proper intermeshing of grooves26 and 45 with flanges 46 and 27. When a plurality of operableconnectors are to be employed in one installation, the notches and pinsof each connector will be located differently from those of all otherconnectors, thereby obviating any possibility of misconnecting theconnector parts. I

As above indicated, the connector includes means for preliminarilyyieldably locking connector parts 10 and 11 in alignment. For thispurpose the left or inner end of the housing 12 of connector part 11 isprovided with an annular groove 59, there being a locking ring 60slidably mounted in such groove. The outer, left-hand face 61 of ring 60is annularly chamfered so as to form a conelike surface 64 whichconverges to the left (FIG. 1). A plurality (four shown) of equallyangularly spaced axially directed bores 65 extend from the bottom ofgroove 59 as shown in FIG. 1, there being a coil compression spring 66in each of such bores acting between the bottom of the bore and theinner surface of the ring 60. A pin 67 is provided on an extendingaxially inwardly from the ring to guide the portion of each spring 66 inannular groove 59 The ring 60 is retained from travel outwardly or tothe left beyond the position determined by engagement between a splitspring ring 69 snapped into an annular groove in the housing 12 and aradially outwardly annular shoulder 70 on the ring 60. When the shoulder70 engages the spring ring 69 when the connector parts 10 and 11 aredisconnected, the lefthand (FIG. 1) surface of the ring 60 lies a shortdistance to the left beyond the plane of the surface 28 of the flange27. When the connector part 10 is moved laterally downwardly, intoalignment with connector part 11 as above described, the surface 47 offlange 46 on connector part 10 first engages the face 61 of ring 60 soas to thrust the ring to the right against the opposition of the spring66 until surface 28 engages surface 47. When the connector part 10 isthen moved laterally downwardly and has reached a position of axialalignment with the connector part 11, the ring 60 is moved slightly tothe left by springs 66 so that the chamfered edge 64 of wall 61 of thering lies within a shallow frustoconical seat 71 which is provided by achamfered radially inner edge on the confronting axially inner orright-hand portion of the housing 30 of connector part 10. As a result,parts 10 and 11 of the connector are yieldability, yet securely heldagainst fortuitous relative lateral motion so that the shell 31 may thenbe advanced to the right to mate the sockets and pins and to lock thetwo connector parts in mated relation.

The shell 31 within the housing 30 is selectively moved by mechanicalmeans into a fully advanced, mated position shown in FIG. 1 or into theretracted unmated position shown in FIG. 4. Such mechanical meansincludes a sleeve 74 which is telescoped over the shell 31 and isslidable longitudinally within the housing 30. Oppositely disposedbosses 75 on the sleeve 74 extend through longitudinally disposed slots76 through the wall of the housing 30. A spacer sleeve 77 alsotelescoped about the shell 31 and within the housing 30 is interposedbetween the sleeve 74 and the flange 35 on the shell 31. A first wavygenerally annular spring 79 is positioned between the sleeves 74 and 77,there being a second similar spring 80 between the sleeve 77 and anannular filler member 81 which abuts the axially outer surface of theflange 35. Axially outwardly of or to the left of the sleeve 74 andbetween it and threaded bushing 82 which is snapped into an annulargroove on the shell. A third wavy spring which is telescoped about theshell 31 is positioned between the spring ring 84 and the axially outerend surface of the sleeve 74. The sleeve 74 is thrust to the right(FIG. 1) thereby compressing springs 79 and 80 and thrusting the shell31 to the right when the connector parts are fully connected and mated.When the connector parts are disengaged, the sleeve 74 and the shell 31are positioned relatively to each other as shown in FIG. 4 and spring 85is compressed between sleeve 74 and an internal shoulder 103 in housing30. Sleeve 74 is releasably locked in both its fully advanced and fullyretracted positions in a manner to be described.

The -mechanism for actuating the sleeve 74 as above described includes abale or lever 86 which has two similar side members 89 of invertedT-shape, the side members 89 lying on opposite sides of the housing 30.The side members 89 of the lever are connected by a bail 87 disposedabove the housing, there being a handle 88 on top of the bail to enableto the lever to be readily grasped. The side members 89 of the lever 86are provided with opposed slots 90 along the length of the stem of thelever, there being heads of rivet formations 91 disposed outwardly ofthe slots 90 to retain the lever in place upon the bosses 75 whilepermitting it to pivot and slide with respect thereto.

The lower portion of the lever 86 has similar outer or rear arms 92, therear ends of which are connected to rear links 94 by pivotal connectingmeans such as rivets 95. The rear ends of inks 94 are connected tooppositely outwardly directed bosses 97 on the housing 30 by a pivotalconnecting means 96. The lever 86 has two parallel forward arms 99 whichare pivotally connected at 100 to the ends of forward links 101, theforward ends of such links being pivotally connected to the housing 30at 102. When the parts and 11 of the connector are mated and locked asshown in FIG. 1, the lever 86 lies with its stem in an upwardly andaxially inwardly inclined position. When the lever means associated withconnector part 10 is in its retracted position, it lies with the stem ofthe side members 89 inclined upwardly and to the left with the arms andthe rear and forward links 94, 101 disposed in the position shown inFIG. 4 and by phantom lines in FIG. 1.

When the lever is in the position shown in FIG. 1, the lower ends of theslots 90 in the side member 89 thereof lie close to the bosses 75. Thetoggle composedof the rear arms 92 of the lever and the rear links 94lies upwardly past its dead center, whereas the toggle composed of theforward lever arms 99 and of the forward links 101 lies markedlydownwardly below its dead center. The thrust imposed upon the shell 31by the lever system to move and maintain it into the right-hand positionshown in FIG. 1 proceeds from the housing 30, the pivotal connections96, the links 94, the arms 92 of the lever the pivotal connection 91 tothe sleeve 74; spacer 77, spring 80, and filler 81 thrusts the shell 31to the right as described.

When the parts of the connector are disposed as shown in FIG. I, theaxially inner end of insert 32 forcibly engages resilient plate 19 oninsert 16 and effects an end seal therewith, as above explained. Suchengagement between insert 32 and plate 19 also serves to stop furthermovement of shell 31 to the right; the toggle 92, 94 of the lever means86 is thus stably held in the extended but past dead center positionshown in FIG. 1. The slots 90 in the side members 89 of the lever 86provide the necessary freedom of movement of the lever 86 up and downwith respect to the pivotal connections 91 as the lever 86 up is movedbetween its right-hand (FIG. 1) mating position and its left-hand (FIG.4) retracted position.

When the lever 86 is in its retracted position (FIG. 4), the togglecomposed of the lever arms 92 and the links 94 is down past dead centerwhereas the toggle composed of the lever arms 99 and the links 101 is uppast dead center, the bosses 75 then lying adjacent the rear end of theslots 76 through the wall of the housing 30. The thrust to retract theshell 31 to the left is then from the housing 30 through the pivots 102through the toggle 99, 101, the bosses 75, the sleeve 74, the thirdspring 85, the spring ring 84, to the shell 31. In the retractedposition of the connector part 10 the wavy spring 85 is under axialcompression between ring 74 and the internal shoulder 103, and holds thetoggle 99, 101 in an extended past dead center position. In both themated and unmated positions the rivets 91 engage the bottom of slot 90to prevent movement by the wavy springs then under compression.

The illustrative embodiment of connector may be quickly and surelyassembled and locked in mated position by the use of one hand alone. Thelever means is such that only a relatively low force is required to lockthe connector parts together and to unlock them. Such lever means alsoeliminates the necessity of separate means for locking the shell 31 inits mated and unmated positions. The detent means 60, 71 for retainingthe connector parts in preliminarily assembled aligned relationship isautomatically operated upon the movement of the connector partsrelatively laterally into and out of aligned position.

The connector provides for the secure sealing of the mating contactsfrom the atmosphere by sealing means 50 and 20, SI. Sealing means 50becomes effective immediately upon its engagement with the wall 29 ofthe bore in casing 12 as the shell 31 is moved to the right. This takesplace before contacts l7 and 34 engage. The connector may thus becoupled and fully mated with the electric power on, and in an oxygenrich air mixture.

Although only one embodiment of the invention has been illustrated inthe accompanying drawings and described in the foregoing specification,it is to be expressly understood that various changes, such as in therelative dimensions of the parts, materials used and the like, as wellas the suggested manner of use of the apparatus of the invention, may bemade therein without departing from the spirit and scope of theinvention, as will now be apparent to those skilled in the art.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property, orprivilege, is claimed are defined as follows:

1. An electrical connector device: comprising first and second mainsupporting members, an insulating contact supporting member forselective engagement with each other, interlocking means on said mainsupporting members for locking them against relative axial movementafter they have been assembled in axial alignment, said means comprisingmating elements on the confronting en ds'of the main supporting membershaving engaging surfaces: lying in a plane transverse to the axis of theassembled main supporting members, means for retaining the mainsupporting members in axial alignment after they have been thusassembled, said retaining means comprising detent means mounted on oneof said main supporting members and resiliently biased toward a positionin which a part thereof protrudes axially beyond the said transversesurface of said one main supporting member and a seat in the confrontingend of the other main supporting member adapted to receive saidprotruding part of the detent means when the main supporting members arethus assembled in axial alignment, and means for moving one said contactsupporting member axially relative to the assembled main supportingmembers and the other contact supporting member for moving said contactsinto and out of engagement.

2. Apparatus as defined in claim I wherein the first and second mainsupporting members are tubular casings, the contact supporting membersare inserts within the respective casings, and the said part of thedetent means protrudes from the said transverse surface of itsrespective casing radially outwardly of the insert in such casing.

3. Apparatus as defined in claimv 2, wherein the detent means is in theform of a ring disposed transversely to the axis of its respectivecasing and coaxial thereof, the said part of the detent means is annularaxially outer edge thereof, and the seat is a frustoconical surface ofsaid other casing.

4. An electrical connector device comprising first and second mainsupporting members, an insulating contact supporting member mounted oneach said main supporting member, a contact mounted on each said contactsupporting member for selective engagement with each other, interlockingmeans on said main supporting members for locking them against relativeaxial movement after they have been assembled in axial alignment withsaid contacts out of engagement, means for retaining the main supportingmembers in axial alignment after they have been thus assembled with saidcontacts out of engagement, and means for moving one said contactsupporting member axially relative to the thus assembled main supportingmembers and the other contact supporting member for moving said contactsinto and out of engagement, said last-named means comprising lever meansincluding toggle joint means mounted on one said main supporting memberfor selectively stably retaining said one contact supporting membertherein in its terminal advanced and its terminal retracted positions byovercenter toggle joint action. Whereby said contacts are retainedrespectively in engaged and disengaged positions.

5. An electrical connector device comprising first and second mainsupporting members, an insulating contact supporting member mounted oneach said main supporting member, a contact mounted on each saidcontacts supporting member for selective engagement with each other uponrelative axial movement of said contact supporting members, interlockingmeans on said main supporting members for locking them against relativeaxial movement when they have been assembled in axial alignment byrelative movement thereof transversely of said axial movement,automatically operable means for yieldably holding the main supportingmembers in interlocked axial alignment when they have been thusassembled with said contacts out of engagement, and means for moving onesaid contact supporting members axially relative to the main supportingmembers and the other contact supporting member for moving said contactsinto and out of engagement while said main supporting members are thusyieldably held in interlocked axial alignment.

6. An, electrical connector device comprising first and second mainsupporting members, an insulating contact supporting member mounted oneach said main supporting member, a contact mountedon each said contactsupporting member for selective engagement with each other, interlockingmeans on said main supporting members for locking them against relativeaxial movement after they have been assembled in axial alignment, meansfor retaining the main sup porting members in axial alignment after theyhave been thus assembled, means for moving one said contact supportingmember axially relative to the assembled main supporting members and theother contact supporting member for moving said contacts into and out ofengagement, said last-named means comprising lever means includingtoggle joint means mounted on one said main supporting member forselectively stably retaining said one contact supporting member thereinin its terminal advanced and its terminal retracted positions, a movablemember carried by said one main supporting member, the movable memberbeing reciprocable along the axis of and with respect to said one mainsupporting member and said one contact supporting member, and resilientmeans operative in both directions between said one contact supportingmember and the movable member, and wherein the toggle joint means isconnected between the said one main supporting member and the movablemember.

7. Apparatus as defined in claim 6, wherein the toggle joint meanscomprises two toggles having links connected in series, the outer endsof the outer links being pivotally connected to said one main supportingmember, and the inner ends of the inner links being rigidly connectedtogether and pivotally connected to the movable member.

8. An electrical connector device comprising first and second mainsupporting members, an insulating contact supporting member mounted oneach said main supporting member, contact mounted on each said contactsupporting member for selective engagement with each other upon relativeaxial movement of said contact supporting members, interlocking means onsaid main supporting members rendered operative by relative movementthereof tranversely of said axial movement for locking them againstrelative axial movement after they have been assembled in axialalignment, automatically operable means for yieldably holding the mainsupporting members against such transverse movement relative to eachother after they have been thus assembled, means for moving one saidcontact supporting member axially relative to the assembled mainsupporting members and the other contact supporting member for movingsaid contacts into and out of engagement, and interfitting formations onsaid main supporting members comprising a pin on and extending parallelto the axis of one main supporting member and a notch in the peripheralsurface of the other main supporting member positioned to receive the pmwhen the main supporting members are assembled in interlocked axialalignment and predetermined angular orientation, the formations beingsuch that they prevent such assembly of mismated main supportingmembers.

9. An electrical connector device comprising a tubular housing, acontact supporting assembly in said housing including a tubular sleeveconcentric with and axially slidable within said housing, a tubularshell slidable axially within said sleeve, means on saidshell forlimiting axial movement of the sleeve thereon and resilient means forresisting movement of said sleeve in opposite directions on the shell,and a lever system for moving said assembly axially relative to saidhousing between predetermined limiting positions comprising twoovercenter type toggle joints alternatively operable in conjunction withsaid resilient means for yieldably holding said assembly in one or theother of said limiting positions.

10. A device as defined in claim 9 wherein said resilient meanscomprises a spring at each end of said sleeve and compressible byrelative movement of the sleeve on the shell for yieldably holding thetoggle joints in overcenter positions.

11. An electrical connector device comprising a tubular housing, acontact supporting assembly axially slidable in said housing including atubular shell, a sleeve surrounding said shell intermediate the endsthereof and having limited axial movement thereon and resilient means ateach end of said sleeve for resisting axial movement of the sleeve onthe shell in opposite directions, and lever means for reciprocating saidassembly axially in the housing comprising a lever having divergingarms, means including a pin on said sleeve engageable in a slot in saidlever for pivotally connecting said lever and sleeve, a first linkpivotally connected to the outer end of one said lever arm and to saidhousing and a second link pivotally connected to the outer end ofanother said lever arm and to the housing, said pin being constrained tomove in a line between the pivotal connections of said links to thehousing, whereby pivotal movement of said lever about said pin effectsaxial movement of said assembly in said housing.

12. A device as defined in claim 11 wherein said pin moves in a planecontaining the longitudinal axis of the housing and the pivotal axes ofthe connections between said links and the housing.

13. A device as defined in claim 11 wherein-said resilient means at oneend of the sleeve is a wavy annular spring captured between said sleeveand stop means on said shell.

14. A device as defined in claim 13 wherein said spring is engageablewith stop means on the housing to limit movement of the sleeve in onedirection relative to the housing.

15. A device as defined in claim 13 wherein said resilient means at theother end of the sleeve is interposed between said

1. An electrical connector device comprising first and second mainsupporting members, an insulating contact supporting member forselective engagement with each other, interlocking means on said mainsupporting members for locking them against relative axial movementafter they have been assembled in axial alignment, said means comprisingmating elements on the confronting ends of the main supporting membershaving engaging surfaces lying in a plane transverse to the axis of theassembled main supporting members, means for retaining the mainsupporting members in axial alignment after they have been thusassembled, said retaining means comprising detent means mounted on oneof said main supporting members and resiliently biased toward a positionin which a part thereof protrudes axially beyond the said transversesurface of said one main supporting member and a seat in the confrontingend of the other main supporting member adapted to receive saidprotruding part of the detent means when the main supporting members arethus assembled in axial alignment, and means for moving one said contactsupporting member axially relative to the assembled main supportingmembers and the other contact supporting member for moving said contactsinto and out of engagement.
 2. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 whereinthe first and second main supporting members are tubular casings, thecontact supporting members are inserts within the respective casings,and the said part of the detent means protrudes from the said transversesurface of its respective casing radially outwardly of the insert insuch casing.
 3. Apparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein the detentmeans is in the form of a ring disposed transversely to the axis of itsrespective casing and coaxial thereof, the said part of the detent meansis annular axially outer edge thereof, and the seat is a frustoconicalsurface of said other casing.
 4. An electrical connector devicecomprising first and second main supporting members, an insulatingcontact supporting member mounted on each said main supporting member, acontact mounted on each said contact supporting member for selectiveengagement with each other, interlocking means on said main supportingmembers for locking them against relative axial movement after they havebeen assembled in axial alignment with said contacts out of engagement,means for retaining the main supporting members in axial alignment afterthey have been thus assembled with said contacts out of engagement, andmeans for moving one said contact supporting member axially relative tothe thus assembled main supporting members and the other contactsupporting member for moving said contacts into and out of engagement,said last-named means comprising lever means including toggle jointmeans mounted on one said main supporting member for selectively stablyretaining said one contact supporting member therein in its terminaladvanced and its terminal retracted positions by overcenter toggle jointaction. Whereby said contacts are retained respectively in engaged anddisengaged positions.
 5. An electrical connector device comprising firstand second main supporting members, an insulating contact supportingmember mounted on each said main supporting member, a contact mounted oneach said contacts supporting member for selective engagement with eachother upon relative axial movement of said contact supporting members,interlocking means on said main supporting members for locking themagainst relative axial movement when they have been assembled in axialalignment by relative movement thereof transversely of said axialmovement, automatically operable means for yieldably holding the mainsupporting members in interlocked axial alignment when they have beenthus assembled with said contacts out of engagement, and means formoving one said contact supporting members axially relative to the mainsupporting members and the other contact supporting meMber for movingsaid contacts into and out of engagement while said main supportingmembers are thus yieldably held in interlocked axial alignment.
 6. Anelectrical connector device comprising first and second main supportingmembers, an insulating contact supporting member mounted on each saidmain supporting member, a contact mounted on each said contactsupporting member for selective engagement with each other, interlockingmeans on said main supporting members for locking them against relativeaxial movement after they have been assembled in axial alignment, meansfor retaining the main supporting members in axial alignment after theyhave been thus assembled, means for moving one said contact supportingmember axially relative to the assembled main supporting members and theother contact supporting member for moving said contacts into and out ofengagement, said last-named means comprising lever means includingtoggle joint means mounted on one said main supporting member forselectively stably retaining said one contact supporting member thereinin its terminal advanced and its terminal retracted positions, a movablemember carried by said one main supporting member, the movable memberbeing reciprocable along the axis of and with respect to said one mainsupporting member and said one contact supporting member, and resilientmeans operative in both directions between said one contact supportingmember and the movable member, and wherein the toggle joint means isconnected between the said one main supporting member and the movablemember.
 7. Apparatus as defined in claim 6, wherein the toggle jointmeans comprises two toggles having links connected in series, the outerends of the outer links being pivotally connected to said one mainsupporting member, and the inner ends of the inner links being rigidlyconnected together and pivotally connected to the movable member.
 8. Anelectrical connector device comprising first and second main supportingmembers, an insulating contact supporting member mounted on each saidmain supporting member, contact mounted on each said contact supportingmember for selective engagement with each other upon relative axialmovement of said contact supporting members, interlocking means on saidmain supporting members rendered operative by relative movement thereoftranversely of said axial movement for locking them against relativeaxial movement after they have been assembled in axial alignment,automatically operable means for yieldably holding the main supportingmembers against such transverse movement relative to each other afterthey have been thus assembled, means for moving one said contactsupporting member axially relative to the assembled main supportingmembers and the other contact supporting member for moving said contactsinto and out of engagement, and interfitting formations on said mainsupporting members comprising a pin on and extending parallel to theaxis of one main supporting member and a notch in the peripheral surfaceof the other main supporting member positioned to receive the pin whenthe main supporting members are assembled in interlocked axial alignmentand predetermined angular orientation, the formations being such thatthey prevent such assembly of mismated main supporting members.
 9. Anelectrical connector device comprising a tubular housing, a contactsupporting assembly in said housing including a tubular sleeveconcentric with and axially slidable within said housing, a tubularshell slidable axially within said sleeve, means on said shell forlimiting axial movement of the sleeve thereon and resilient means forresisting movement of said sleeve in opposite directions on the shell,and a lever system for moving said assembly axially relative to saidhousing between predetermined limiting positions comprising twoovercenter type toggle joints alternatively operable in conjunction withsaid resilient means for yieldably holding said assembly in one or theother of said limiting posItions.
 10. A device as defined in claim 9wherein said resilient means comprises a spring at each end of saidsleeve and compressible by relative movement of the sleeve on the shellfor yieldably holding the toggle joints in overcenter positions.
 11. Anelectrical connector device comprising a tubular housing, a contactsupporting assembly axially slidable in said housing including a tubularshell, a sleeve surrounding said shell intermediate the ends thereof andhaving limited axial movement thereon and resilient means at each end ofsaid sleeve for resisting axial movement of the sleeve on the shell inopposite directions, and lever means for reciprocating said assemblyaxially in the housing comprising a lever having diverging arms, meansincluding a pin on said sleeve engageable in a slot in said lever forpivotally connecting said lever and sleeve, a first link pivotallyconnected to the outer end of one said lever arm and to said housing anda second link pivotally connected to the outer end of another said leverarm and to the housing, said pin being constrained to move in a linebetween the pivotal connections of said links to the housing, wherebypivotal movement of said lever about said pin effects axial movement ofsaid assembly in said housing.
 12. A device as defined in claim 11wherein said pin moves in a plane containing the longitudinal axis ofthe housing and the pivotal axes of the connections between said linksand the housing.
 13. A device as defined in claim 11 wherein saidresilient means at one end of the sleeve is a wavy annular springcaptured between said sleeve and stop means on said shell.
 14. A deviceas defined in claim 13 wherein said spring is engageable with stop meanson the housing to limit movement of the sleeve in one direction relativeto the housing.
 15. A device as defined in claim 13 wherein saidresilient means at the other end of the sleeve is interposed betweensaid sleeve and stop means on said shell.